I am sure it would if the government of Colorado would stop trying to intervene in the market.

They set the tax high to drive demand to stay in the shadow market and then complain about not getting the tax revenue. You can't have it both ways. Its sad that you don't understand this. It is basic economics.

I understand it fine. One of the primary reasons for legalization has turned out to be fantasy.

__________________I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?

I understand it fine. One of the primary reasons for legalization has turned out to be fantasy.

Then like I said. You can't have it both ways.

Why are you such a drug warrior anyway? The war on drugs has been an utter failure, just like all prohibitions on victimless crimes, on all fronts. Huge waste of money, lives, erosion of civil rights, militarization of police, increases violence, and a huge shadow economy.

A guy I know who lives out there now says he still buys black market because he knows tons of people who grow and have a surplus after they sell all their wholesale. They sell their surplus at retail for the same price they sell to wholesalers. So if you buy black market, you're getting it way cheaper. I think the legal risk is pretty minimal for all parties, it's just a matter of having a connection.

This behavior would certainly lessen tax revenue.

Edit: I see this has already been covered in the thread and isn't any kind of new information. It does bring up the potential for "revenuers" to start targeting growers just like they targeted stills as the US moved out of alcohol prohibition.

Monitor the growers more closely, beef up the fines for selling under the table, send a couple to jail for a few days or take away their licesne. Most will snap in line.

When this strategy really pays off is when weed becomes legal in a majority of US states. Even with fairly high taxes, smuggling very much across the border becomes unprofitable.

Why I am against more ways for govt to get funds. More bureaucrats to run our lives. Worst argument for making something legal, imo.

The government was already involved, using our tax dollars to enforce antiquated drug laws and incarcerate non violent "criminals" that were created because of those antiquated drug laws. Just moving the budget away from enforcement and incarceration saves money. I've also heard that there was a legislative snafu preventing collection of MJ taxes out of the gate that contributed to the shortfall. I don't know how much of an affect that had on the financials, but I am pro legalization even though I don't use the drug and don't ever plan to. Generally speaking I think the baseline state for all activity should be legal until/unless proven that control is necessary. I don't beleive that anyone has shown the need for pot to be illegal any more than any substance that is currently legal. MJ needs to be rescheduled by the DEA.

I understand it fine. One of the primary reasons for legalization has turned out to be fantasy.

You also have to realize that just because it's legal there doesn't mean the Colorado market is saturated with stores.

We were just in south Colorado, and there wasn't a legal dispensary within 50 miles in any direction from Pagosa Springs. So, it's not like there are head shops on every corner selling all this marijuana.

Let's re-evaluate in a couple of years when they are actually everywhere.

You also have to realize that just because it's legal there doesn't mean the Colorado market is saturated with stores.

We were just in south Colorado, and there wasn't a legal dispensary within 50 miles in any direction from Pagosa Springs. So, it's not like there are head shops on every corner selling all this marijuana.

Let's re-evaluate in a couple of years when they are actually everywhere.

Pot stores aren't allowed everywhere. Communities were given the choice of allowing them or not.

__________________I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?